About The Land Primer

The Land Primer was built to solve a simple, persistent problem: the oil and gas industry communicates in a language designed for lawyers and engineers, but the people who actually own the minerals are everyday families, farmers, and heirs.

When a packet of documents arrives in the mail demanding a signature within 60 days, most people feel lost. The math is hard to verify without specialized knowledge, and the stakes are real.

We don't take sides. We are not a law firm, a lease negotiation service, or an advocacy organization. We build tools that act like a trusted, knowledgeable friend — one who can explain the vocabulary, check the arithmetic, and help you understand what you're looking at before you sign anything or make any decisions.

Our approach

• Accuracy over simplicity — we use the same formulas that title attorneys and division order analysts use.
• Clarity over advocacy — we frame everything as understanding, never as leverage.
• Plain English over jargon — if we use a technical term, we define it.

How we research and write

Every explanation here starts from primary sources — the standard formulas, lease and division-order conventions, and definitions used by title attorneys, landmen, and division-order analysts. Articles are drafted in plain English, then reviewed for accuracy against those sources before publishing. When the law or common practice varies by state, we say so rather than overstating a single rule.

Editorial standards

• Accuracy first — we use the same math the industry uses, and we'd rather omit a claim than guess at it.
• Plain English — technical terms are defined in the glossary and linked where they appear.
• No advocacy — we explain how things work; we don't tell you whether to sign, sell, or lease.
• Always verify — nothing here replaces advice from a licensed professional who knows your specific situation.

Trust & verification

All calculators are built on standard industry formulas. The free tools run entirely in your browser — we do not store your inputs. Our Pro tools (coming soon) use encrypted storage.

Educational information only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with a licensed professional.